Reflections from November 6th – Election Day 2012
November 13, 2012So much excitement, anticipation, anxiety and fear of the unknown. Who would be elected president? My husband and I both woke up to my two year old daughter crying around 4 a.m. and Patrick, my husband, brought her in bed with us. We both knew that we would have to get up really early in order to avoid waiting in line for hours because we live in a “urban” community. The dilemma was how were we going to be able to vote together when Phoenix was out of school that day. I thought I would go first and at 5:15 I started to get out the bed to get dressed so I could be in line by 6:00. My husband quickly stopped me and said I’ll go first and I’ll call you to let you know how things are. After he left, I got up to get dressed and just prepared myself for the likelihood of having to stand in line. Then Patrick called and said there were like 150 people ahead of him and I told him I would call him when I was leaving the house. I ironed Phoenix’s clothes and packed her backpack with snacks and juice. Eventually I woke her up and told her that it was time for us to go vote. She was excited because she voted the day before at her school for a mock election. When we were out in public, after I picked her up from school, she was proud to tell people that she had voted and that she voted for President Obama. Every time she said it, I was beaming with pride and joy, not only because I was a proud mama, but also because I knew this time around I was actually going to be able to vote for the first time in a presidential election. I recall when Armani, my son, was 13, and it was seven years after my release from prison, I had to explain to him Virginia’s felony disenfranchisement laws and why Mommy couldn’t vote. He just couldn’t understand why his Mom was different from everyone else who was voting. This year a few days before the election, I received my voter registration card and I knew that on election day I would be emotional and grateful because there are still 4.4 million other formerly incarcerated people whose voting rights haven’t been restored.
Patrick called as I was walking out the door with Phoenix and asked where we were I told him on our way. I had Phoenix in her heavy coat, hat and gloves and was preparing myself mentally for the worst as far as the wait as I was driving to our polling precinct at an elementary school that was in the heart of projects in Norfolk, VA. I thought of my grandmother because Norfolk was were she was from and the neighborhood is not far from where she use to live. Now here is where, Gods favor and having a good husband kicks in…as I was pulling up to the school there was an open parking space right in the front and Patrick was standing in line at the front of the school. When I got out of the car with Phoenix and walked over to him, he shared with me that he had talked to the people in the line behind him and asked if they minded me joining him and they all said okay since we had Phoenix. I have to be honest, I was shocked that everyone was friendly and even was talking to Phoenix. Eventually within about twenty minutes we walk inside the school and there were only six voting machines and two people checking people in. I thought to myself, something has to be done about this whole election process. Patrick was in line at 6 a.m. and it was after 8:30 when we voted. After I checked in and got my card to insert in the machine, Patrick looked at me and asked if I was okay because he saw me tearing up. I was tearing up because of the circumstances of how I was voting for the first time and how meaningful it was for me and obviously also to the hundreds of others who were waiting to let our votes be counted. We all knew just how critical this election was.
After I walked out of the school, Patrick took Phoenix to his car and we decided to meet back up for breakfast, but as I was driving, I had to call my parents to share with them my experience, my happiness and disappointment regarding the process. After all if it were for their commitment to see that their daughter was freed and supporting me traveling the world to advocate on a variety of issues who knows if I would have made it to where I am and who I am today. When Patrick, Phoenix and I got into the restaurant, I looked around and saw others inside wearing their “I voted” stickers. I proudly pulled out my sticker and felt a personal resolve as I stuck it on my shirt.
All evening my husband and I stayed tuned to CNN and eventually when I heard continuous updates about Virginia and how the Norfolk/Tidewater area would be a determining factor as to whether Virginia would go blue, I became more anxious. Even though I had a 6:00 a.m. flight the next morning, not only did I stay up to see who won, but I couldn’t go to sleep until I heard President Obama give his re-election speech. Needless to say, I was elated and used a couple of tissues.
The next morning I was on a flight to San Diego, California for a People of Colour Conference. I looked at the conference program and saw the opening plenary would be focused on the election and the speaker was Les Payne, founder of the National Association of Black Journalist. Immediately, I thought of what I was doing the day after the last presidential election in 2008. My dear Grandmother, who was 95, was living in a nursing home in Richmond. My dad and his sister moved her closer to them because the neighborhood in Norfolk had started to deteriorate and wasn’t safe. I remember dropping my son off at school and stopping by her nursing home to have breakfast with her. I was sad the day before because I couldn’t vote, but I figured I would cheer my spirits by going to see my grandmother. I took two newspapers with me and I showed her who was elected president because she didn’t watch TV as much as she use to. She looked and said, “a colored man is really president?” Her next question, still keeps me smiling to this day, “Well, does he have a black wife?” I remember laughing and saying, yes grandmother and she is a real black woman, brown-skinned and all with two beautiful daughters.
I’m so glad that we have another four years…but it is a must that we all continue to move forward and don’t be complacent. There is too much we have to get done! As Obama said,”The best is yet to come.”
November 13th, 2012 at 9:15 am
To God be the glory great things he has done in your life. I dont know you but know your parents I am as proud of you as they are. Just keep your eye on the prize and things will continue to be blessings for you. God Bless
January 9th, 2013 at 3:11 pm
Thanks Ms. Ford! I appreciate your support!
November 13th, 2012 at 4:04 pm
Hi Kemba I am really glad you were able to vote in this very intense election. I could imagine how emotional that was for you. I am so happy for you and glad that I met you and graduated with you from VUU and hopefully our paths will cross again. I agree with you 100 percent something has to be done about the voting process. I voted in an urban community in Chesapeake and I was in line before 6:00 and didn’t leave the polls until almost 9:00 I could not believe how slow the process was.
January 9th, 2013 at 3:10 pm
Thank you for sharing your experience Yolanda? You were a SW major too right?
November 13th, 2012 at 11:10 pm
Great Story Kemba, I am happy for you and your family. Yes, the best is yet to come.
January 9th, 2013 at 3:08 pm
Thanks Athena!!!
January 9th, 2013 at 3:09 pm
I hope all is well with you and your daughter. Happy New Year!
December 17th, 2012 at 7:26 pm
I love this ! It brought tears to my eyes. Love the part about your grandmother:)
January 9th, 2013 at 3:05 pm
Thank you and God bless!!!
January 9th, 2013 at 3:07 pm
I truly appreciate you reaching out. Unfortunately, my schedule is a little crazy for the next couple of months and my time is very limited. If you would like to correspond via email feel free to email me at kemba@kembasmith.com.
Blessings,
Kemba